The choice of colleges to apply to is one of the most important you are going to make in your life. Perhaps it won’t define your entire future from this moment on, but it will certainly have a huge influence on how things will unfold for you.

This is why you should approach this selection with as much care as possible – and we will give you some tips that will be useful no matter what your definition of a good college is.

Divide Colleges into Categories

You don’t have to apply to every college in the country, but it may be worth reaching out for some variety. Divide the colleges you are interested in into three categories:

• Your top choices, but the most difficult to get into;
• Solid medium-tier colleges you are likely to get accepted to;
• Safe choices – less prestigious but easy to get into.

Pick at least two or three colleges from each category – this way, you won’t put all your eggs into one basket and will be able to both utilize your full potential and have a guarantee that you will be accepted somewhere.

Ask for Personal Recommendations

Ads by colleges may contain truthful information, but there are always many things left unsaid, which means that you can never fully trust them. The best tip here is a recommendation by somebody you trust who has personal experience of studying in a particular college. So go out and ask! Your parents, family friends, relatives, counselors, teachers all have personally acquired information about a variety of colleges, so make sure you ask them.

Decide What You Want

Make sure you understand what you really want from education. Do you want to prepare for a specific line of work or get a broader education? Do you know what your future career will be, or do you expect to fluctuate between a few majors before you find yourself? Your main interests should inform your choice of college because many of them have clearly defined specializations. Of course, you can always buy a research paper or two from an online writing service if you have problems with a particular subject, but it is always best to focus on the disciplines you are truly into. A reputable agency like CustomWritings.com can cover most of your needs, but it is never a good idea to be too reliant on outside help.

Investigate Social Life in the College

For most people, college is not just a place where they get an education, but also a social scene where they meet new people and build connections with them. Unless you intend to dedicate all your time to study, you should pay some attention to what each college has to offer in terms of social life. Does it have fraternities and sororities? What kinds of extracurricular activities does it have? Is it close to any major cities? Different people have different social needs, so try to see whether you will feel at home there and don’t rely on someone else’s opinion.

Check out Living Accommodations

No matter how strong a college is academically, you are not going to spend your entire time in class. You are going to live somewhere, and you will live there for four years or more. So make sure living accommodations satisfy you. Find out if the majority of students live on or off campus. Will you have roommates, and how many of them, if you live in a dorm? When were the dorm buildings built? What are your chances of getting a room in the dorms?

Apply these tips in your search, and we are sure you will be able to pick a college that will suit you in all respects!